Hard-Hitting Questions for 'Beauch'

He’s had an outstanding season for the Ducks, and should be ranked among the best in the league, but Francois Beauchemin’s name hasn’t come up much when talks arise of Norris Trophy candidates. “It should come up,” Bruce Boudreau said a few days back. “On what he’s done and where we are in the standings and how much he plays and how important he is to us — all those factors.”

Beauchemin leads all Ducks defensemen in points this season with 22 in 41 games, and he trails only teammate Sheldon Souray for the league lead in plus-minus at +23 (matching his Jordanesque uniform number). But the numbers hardly do justice to Beauchemin’s game, as he routinely is sent over the boards to shut down the opponent’s top forward line. He's blocking shots, delivering bone-jarring hits, eating up minutes on the penalty kill and occasionally delivering a missile of a slap shot from the blue line.

So naturally, that type of play is an open invitation to put Beauchemin through a round of our Ducks Off the Ice pop culture and personality questions. After a 40-minute practice today, the Ducks had their last team signing of the year, which also means free lunch for the players. Beauchemin sat down alone with a club sandwich at a table set up on the Honda Center concourse, a perfect time to pepper him with a few hard-hitting ones:

Q: If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be?Beauchemin: Oh, that’s a tough one. [Long pause] Wow. Like an actor?

Anyone. Could be an athlete. [Longer pause. I check the recorder to make sure it’s running] You gonna run out of batteries there?

No, it’s fine.
I would say Tiger Woods.

Who is your celebrity crush?[No pause this time.] Kate Beckinsale.

What music do you love?AC/DC. I've always been a fan. What music do you hate?
My son (six-year-old Samuel) loves Justin Bieber, and I think he’s a little annoying. He also listens a lot to Gangnam Style, which I don’t like but I’m getting over it.

What TV shows do you watch religiously?
The Voice. I love that show. Grey’s Anatomy. Those are the two my wife and I watch regularly.

What movie have you seen the most?
Probably Any Given Sunday and Men of Honor with Robert Deniro and Cuba Gooding Jr.

You can eat, by the way. [Opens sandwich but hesitates to start on it.]

What’s your favorite thing to eat?A good steak. Love steak.

What’s a food you refuse to eat? I used to hate tomatoes, but I don’t know if it’s my age or anything, but lately I’m eating them a little bit more. I don’t say no to too much. I like pretty much everything.

[Getzlaf walks by, heading to the food table and asks, “What’d you go with, Beau?” “The club, but I can’t tell you if it’s good yet.”]

What gameday superstitions do you have?
It’s more of a routine than a superstition. I get up, drop my kids at school, get a coffee and some breakfast, come here for the skate. Then we go eat at the same place all the time. I usually nap from 2 to 4, then I’ll stop at Starbucks again on the way to the arena. I used to drink green tea before every game, but I’ve switched to coffee.

Do you have any phobias?
Heights. Any time I’m on top of steps or an elevator and I can see down, that worries me. Flying is okay because I don’t really look down.

Teemu is a bad flyer.
Yeah, I’m not that bad.

What athlete would you trade places with?[Getzlaf sits down at the table and Beauchemin nods toward him.] I’d trade cars with him.

How about non-teammate?[He thinks for awhile before Perry sits down and offers Tony Stewart, the race car driver.] Beauchemin: Yes! Tony Stewart. Thanks, Pears. I don’t know if you’d call him an athlete, but he would be a good one.

Who is the funniest guy on the team?[Getzlaf: Sbisa is the funniest looking.] I think Cogs is pretty funny. He jokes around a lot. [Getzlaf: In a weird way though.] Yeah, in a weird way.

Who is the best-dressed guy on the team?Shelly [Sheldon Souray] is trying. He’s into the fashion. I wouldn’t say he’s the best-dressed, but he’s the most fashionable. He comes out with stuff that nobody else would wear.

He’s got a few tattoos. Do you have any? No. It’s never been my thing.

You’re French-Canadian. Give me something that sounds better in French than English. [Getzlaf: Nothing.] Hey, hey … There are certain things, but I don’t think I can say any of them.